woodframe

Woodframe refers to a building framework that uses timber as the primary structural material to support walls, floors, and roofs. The system relies on a skeleton of wood members, which is then clad with secondary materials and finished externally and internally.

There are two main traditions within woodframe construction. Traditional timber framing uses large timber members connected with joinery such as mortise-and-tenon joints, often pegged with wooden or metal pins. Modern timber-frame buildings frequently employ glulam or other engineered timbers but retain the visible timber-frame aesthetic in some cases. Light-frame or platform framing, common in many residential buildings, uses smaller dimension lumber (for example, 2x4 or 2x6 studs) spaced at regular intervals, with floor and roof assemblies composed of joists and rafters and panels such as plywood or oriented strand board to create a rigid enclosure.

Materials commonly used include softwoods such as pine, spruce, fir, or cedar, along with engineered products like laminated veneer lumber (LVL), glue-laminated timber (glulam), and oriented strand board (OSB). Construction typically involves assembling the frame on a foundation, installing wall and floor systems, then sheathing and weatherproofing the exterior.

Advantages of woodframe construction include relatively light weight, affordability, good insulation potential, and ease of on-site modification. Limitations can include fire protection requirements, moisture sensitivity, susceptibility to pests in some regions, and the need for skilled detailing in joinery or connections.

In practice, woodframe is widely used for houses and small to mid-size structures, with regional variations in methods and code requirements that govern structural performance, fire resistance, and durability.